Book holder



D. W. NUTTING Feb. 9, 1965 BOOK HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 28, 1961 Fig. 2

ATTORNEYS D. W. NUTTING Feb. 9, 1965 BOOK HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 28, 1961 Ullll i INVENTOR. Donald W. Nuffing BY wmTEHEAD, voGL a Lowa PERM ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,168,791 1500K HOLDER Donald W. Nutting, R0. Box 1136, Boulder, Colo. Original application Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 135,102, now Patent No. 3,091,886, dated .lune 4, 1963. Divided and this application May 24, 1963, Ser. No. 282,919

6 Claims. (Cl. 24S-188.1)

This invention relates to reading aids and more particularly to devices and apparatus which are especially adapted to hold books in a selected open position for the benefit of a reader. As such, the invention will be hereinafter referred to as a book holder.

This invention is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 135,102, tiled August 28, 1961, which will issue as Patent No. 3,091,886 on lune 4, 1963, claiming herein subject matter disclosed in said prior application but not therein claimed.

A primary object of the invention herein claimed is to provide a novel and improved construction of a stand for 'a book holder of improved versatility in use and enhanced effectiveness in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved book holder for holding an open book in a selected position for reading, combined with an improved frame arrangement for the supporting holder which carries the holder on an improved, universally swivelled means adapted to permit the holder to be shifted and oriented to any selected location.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved book holder which carries an improved lighting means therefor, adapted to properly illuminate the pages of an open book mounted in the holder, in a manner which may completely avoid glare and visual inconvenience to the reader.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved supporting arrangement for a book holder which is adapted to be extended both elevationally and laterally to permit the book holder to reach any selected position at a substantial distance from the base portion of the support, and is further adapted to automatically lock at any selected elevational position to minimize the possibility of the unit slipping or accidentally collapsing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved support for a book holder and the like having an improved base construction which is especially adapted to be secured land anchored by a simple use of a leg or post of a desk, bed or the like to permit the support to be extendably adjusted, elevationally and laterally, to selected position and at a substantial distance from the base portion of the support.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved book holder for facilitating reading which isa simple, neat-appearing, economical, rugged and durable unit when used in its selected environment.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain novel and improved constructions, combinations and arrangements, of parts and elements as hereinafter described, dened in the appended claims and illustrated in preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the book holderstand combination in a partially retracted position, and with broken lines indicating a corner of a bedstead or like object in position for supporting the stand and with other broken lines illustrating the outline of a book in position on the holder.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stand portion of the unit, with portions being broken away `and in section to show parts otherwise hidden from view and Shihill Patented Fehr. 9, 1965 ice with other portions being broken away and condensed to conserve space.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the stand as viewed substantially from the indicated arrow 3 at FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional detail as taken from the indicated line 4 4 at FIG. 3, but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational View of a portion of the stand, similar to FIG. 3, but on a slightly enlarged scale and showing an alternate construction thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail, partially in section, as taken substantialy from the indicated line 6 6 at FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the book holder portion of the assembly as taken substantially from the indicated arrow 7 at FIG. 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary portion, in plan, of the connective head of the book holder unit, as taken substantially from the indicated line S-S at FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken substantially from the indicated line 9 9 at FIG. 8.

FIGURE 10 is Ia fragmentary sectional detail as taken substantially from the indicated line 1li-lil at FIG. 8.

FIGURES 11-13 are diagrammatic outline views of a book holder in several various positions in which the assembly may be shifted to hold a book as desired.

A number of situations arise where it is desirable to use a book holder to hold a book in tan open position for the reader. A common need is to hold a book for a convalescent. Such a device is also useful as for a posture improving means, and simply as a means of permitting the reader a maximum of physical comfort while he is reading. This often permits a greater degree of concentration than would otherwise be possible. A reader may desire to use a holder while sitting upright, while leaning backwards or even while lying down in a supine position. Complete and proper relaxation can improve an individuals reading efficiency to a surprising degree and several different types of book holders have been developed with this purpose in mind. However, they have not been generally satisfactory primarily because of their lack of flexibility. The complete and. proper relaxation desired may require the assumption of a number of dilferent positions as at different times. To operate in the best manner, a book holder must bel suilciently flexible to permit ia book to be placed and held in a number of different positions. Also, a book must be properly illuminated at any selected position. Also, the stand or carrier for supporting the book holder must be versatile in its setting and ilexible in adjustment `so that the book holder may be suspended at any selected position, and yet be rigid and stable once it is set.

With these needs in view the present invention was conceived and developed and comprises, in essence, an improved book holder construction which combines :a means for holding the book in an open position with an improved carrier framework which can extend the book holding means upwardly and outwardly in a generally universal manner. Also a universal swivelling means connects the holder to its frame and a simple and effective lighting means is mounted on the swiveling means to shift with the holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and to FIG. l thereof, the primary components of my organization includes the book holder H, the frame F, and a light L. The frame F includes a base 10 and an extensible standard 11 upstanding from the base. A lazy tongs arm 12 outstands from the top of the standard. The book holder I-l is affixed to the extended end of the lazy tong arm 12 by a universal swivel means 13 and the light L is mounted upon a hinged arm 14 which is also aiixed to the universal swivel means, all in the manner as hereini after brought forth as these various components are described in detail.

The base l is formed about a short, upstanding, tubular socket 15, which is preferably a square tube adapted to telescopically receive the standard il hereinafter described. The socket 15' is aiiixed to a pair of complimentary arms i6 which outstand from adjacent sides of the square socket .l at right angles with each other and in the general form of upstanding triangular plates. Each arm 16 is reinforced by a iiange i7 along its top edge and a ilat floor plate i8 which connects and reinforces the bottom edges of these arms i6. This plate id also extends to the undersurface of the socket tube l5 to bind the assembly together. vWhenever the leg of a bench, desk or bed is set upon this floor-plate between the arms l5, as illustrated in broken lines at FiG. 1, the base will be held tightly upon the floor and the unit will not shift or tip even when the arm 12 extends a maximum distance from the standard 1l. This permits the use of a lightweight carrier frame for the purpose contemplated, where rigidity and stability are essential, for a book mounted upon the holder, as hereinafter described, must be held in a iixed rigid manner.

To complete this base, a pair of auxiliary ams i9 may be swingably aixed to the base between ears Ztl and on a shaft 21 to outstand from the side of the socket tube l5. These auxiliary arms 19 may be swung against the sides of the adjacent fixed arms 16 when they are not needed but when they are used they may be swung outwardly to supplement the ixed arms 16 as in the manner illustrated at FIG. 1.`

The standard 11 includes an outer tube 22 which is preferably square in section and which telescopically and snugly tits into the socket 15 of the base to upstand therefrom. The standard 11 also includes a second smaller inner tube 23 which is also preferably square in section and which telescopically and slideably tits within the outer tube 22 and upstands from the top thereof in an adjustable manner to vary the height of the unit as hereinafter described. A circular leg 24 upstands from the top of the inner tube 23 to swingably carry the outstanding lazy tong arm l2 as clearly illustrated at FlG. l.

The extensible movement of the inner tube 23 into and out of the outer tube 22 is controlled by a manually operated mechanism, an improved rack gear arrangement. Inpreferred construction, an array of uniformly spaced slots 25 is formed at one side of the inner tube 23 to form rack teeth. A bearing support 26 is affixed to the outer side of the outer tube 22 near its top edge and at the side adjacent to the slots 25. This bearing support holds a transversely disposed shaft 27, which, in turn carries a spur gear 2d, and which is keyed thereto. The spur gear engages with the slots 25 to move the inner tube 23 upwardly and downwardly responsive to rotation of the shaft and spur gear 28.

A first turning knob 29 is keyed to one side of the shaft 27 as by a pin 30 illustrated at FIG. 4. This knob may be rotated to rotate the spur gear 28 to raise the inner tube 23. The lother yside o f the shaft 27, which projects from the bearing support 26, is threaded as at 3i and a second turning knob 32 is secured to the shaft upon these threads. The threads are adapted to turn into the handle 32 whenever downward movement of the inner tube 23 occurs to rotate the spur gear 28, and this inward movement of the threads tends to shift the handle 32 against the side of thebearing support 26 and against frictional lockwashers 33 at the base of the handle 32. This shifting action provides for a uniquey automatic braking to prevent sudden dropping of the inner tube 23 into the outer tube 22, and whenever height adjustments are made to the inner tube 23, the knob 32 must be turned to release this braking action. An Unthreaded portion 3d is formed in the threaded portion 3i on the shaft 27 and a lock screw 35 is .mounted inthe hub of the knob 32 to extend into this unthreaded portion to'serve as a stop and prevent the An alternate construction of the extension mechanism is illustrated at FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the bearing support 26a is modified by `an arm 36 which outstar'rds from the bearing support, support 26a, to extend about and td partially embrace the spur gear 2?. The end of this ar'nt is bifurcated to form a yoke 37 which holds a shaft 3b above the spur gear. A pawl 3% is pivotally mounted on this shaft 3% to bear against `a tooth of the spur gear 2S as illustrated at FIG. 6. The pawl acts as a ratchet when the inner tube Z3 is raised by turning knob 29. When the pawl 39 is in the position illustrated with its arm bearing against a tooth of the spur gear, the inner tube 23 is effectively locked in positionwithin the outer tube 22 and will not siideably drop into the outer tube even if the lockJ ing arrangement of the knob 32, bearing against lock washers 33, is accidentally loosened. The pawl 3S is formed with a finger lever 39a which facilitates quick and easy removal and replacement of the pawl to and from a tooth of the spur gear 23.

The lazy tong arm l2 is formed in a conventional criss`= cross pattern of short bars di? having their ends and cen-` ters connecte-d together by pivot pins di. One end of this arin, formed by the opposing ends of a pair of bars 49 is mounted upon the leg Each bar end is pivotally alixcd to a short cylindrical collar d?) having an outstanding ear i3 for connection to its bar as by a pin 44.- The upper collar 4Z is rotatably mounted upon the leg 2d and is held against sliding along the leg by a circular abutment d5 on the leg 2dat the underside of the collar.V The lower collar d2 is slideably and rotatably mountedupon the circular leg 24 to permit the lazy tong arm i2 to be properly extended and retracted by sliding action of the lower collar 42 along the leg 2d and with kboth collars permitting the arm to rotate about the axis of the ieg 24 to any selected direction.

The universal swivel means i3 is mounted uponan ups right cylindrical arm 46 of a similar construction to the leg 24. This arm d5 is rotatably and slideably mounted in short cylindrical collars d2 having ears 43 which are pivotally connected to the extended ends of a pair of bars at the end of the lazy tong arm A circular abut# ment i7 is formed at the top of this arm do to rest against the upper side of the upper collar 42, with/arm being rotatable in the upper collar d2 and being rotatablearid slideable on the lower collar ft2. it follows that this .cy-4

lindrical arm da permits the swivel means i3 to be swung'- 'about a vertical axis to any selected direction.

crotch of the clamp in a` bearing socket 56. The outstanding ends of the clamp are pulled together by a bolt 5l whichlies in a socket-like portion 132 at the comple-Y A threaded portion of this inentary crotch of the clamp. bolt upstandsfrom the upper surface of theV clamp 49 and a knob 53 isturned onto this portion to tightenV the assemi bly and to'iock the clamp 49 onto the studs 48a at'any selected inclination with respect to the vertical axis of the T leg d8.

A shaft Sd which outstands from the shank ofthe bolt 5l and extends through a loosely fitting orifice S5, at the end of the clamp d? to be oriented along the axisof the clamp. circular holding nut 5d and a flanged sleeve 57 is rotatably carried upon the outstanding portion of the shaft 5ft and j is held thereon bythe nut S6. The sleeve 57 is formed with a flange 5d which snugly abuts against the end of the clamp ad. @ne end of this flange is extended andturned to forniv a pair of ears 59 which constitutes a `hinged conri`he end of this shaft 54 is threaded to receive a A,

neet-ion for carrying the arm 14 of the light L. A circular array of indentations 60 lie in the face of this flange 5S, about the axis of the sleeve, and a small socket 61 is formed in the contacting end of the clamp 49 to carry a ball 62 and spring 63 therein. The spring 63 urges the ball into any indentation which may be in registration of the socket 61. In this manner the sleeve 57 may be rotated to any selected position about the axis of the shaft 54 and held in that position by the resilient locking action of the ball 62 moving into an indentation 6u.

The book holder H is formed upon a longitudinally slotted sleeve 64 which slideably and telescopically fits over the holding nut S6 and the sleeve 57. A lug 65 is afixed to the flanged end of the sleeve 57 and a short slot 66 is formed in the sleeve 64 to receive this lug and to force both sleeves to rotate in unison. rhe sleeve 64 is also slotted as at 67 at a position diametrically opposite to the position of the lug 65 and a clamp 68 embraces the sleeve 64. This clamp is adapted to squeeze the sleeve 64 as by a knob-nut 69 to hold the sleeve in a tight position upon the under sleeve 57 and to hold the book holder assembly upon the swivel means 13.

The book holder includes a central rod 7G which is welded or otherwise affixed to the sleeve 64 to extend along the longitudinal axis thereof and to outstand from the swivel assembly. In use it is contemplated that this -rod 70 will lie at the central dihedral crease of the open pages of a book with the pages of the book extending from each side of the bar 7d. A fixed end-abutment 71 is also afxed to the end of the sleeve 64 in a position which is transverse to the axis of the sleeve and the bar 70. The under edge of this end abutment is turned inwardly to lie against the sleeve and to form a lianged connecting portion 72 which holds a transversely disposed page-retaining shelf 73. This shelf includes connecting slots 74 and is connected to the flange 72 by snugly fitting bolts '75. Thus, the width of the shelf 73 may be varied with respect to the end abutment 71 to allow for dieren marginal clearances of different books.

A complementary adjustable end-abutment 76 is mounted upon a clip 77 which is slideably carried upon the bar 70 and which may be held in place by any suitable frictional locking means. This adjustable end-abutment is formed with a liange 72 which carries a page-retaining shelf 73 adjustably affixed to the iiange as by connecting slots '74 and rivets 75 heretofore described. Also, a sponge rubber pad '7S may be affixed to the surface of this adjustable end abutment, as shown at FIG. 7, to secure the edge of the book With a snug resilient fit and7 while not shown, the fixed end abutment 71 may also include such a pad.

When properly laid into position upon the book holder, an open book will be centered upon the bar 76 with the pages lying against the shelves 73, one shelf being at the top and the other shelf being at the bottom of the open pages and with the end abutments 71 and 76 gripping the top and bottom of the book. As a further modification, for larger books, each shelf 73 is formed with its inner edge being inwardly curled to provide a tubular socket 79 to slideably hold extension wires Si). These wires, of fairly rigid material such as piano wire, are especially useful in holding large flimsy material such as sheet music and magazines.

Also, to supplement the wires, one or more intermediate supports 81 may be formed of rigid wire, with the center of the support being fit to form a tight loop S2 which grips the bar 70 and with each end of the intermediate support wire extending transversely therefrom in substantial spaced parallelism with the edges of the shelf 73, as clearly illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 8.

The lamp L is formed with a suitable shade 83 which directs the light emanating from it in the, single direction of the holder H when it is rotated to a proper position as illustrated, the shade being pivotally mounted upon the arm 14 in an axis which lies in substantial spaced parallelism with the transverse edges of the shelf 73. As illustrated, the arm 14 may be a bifurcated member with legs thereof being pivotally connected to the lamp. The other end is connected to a hinge component 84 which engages the ears 59 of flange 58 as heretofore described, the hinge component 84 and the ears 59 being interconnected by a shaft 85 carrying an adjustable lock knob 86.

The light is operated by a suitable switch 87 and suitable circuit wires, not shown, lare threaded upon the apparatus as from the base portion, across the lazytongs 12, down the swivel means 13 and arm 14 and to the light in any conventional manner as desired.

Operation of the unit is manifest from the foregoing description. The frame is set at a selected location and preferably with the leg of a bed or desk resting upon the floor plate 18 to secure it in its selected position. The height of the unit is first adjusted by raising the inner tube 23. Next the lazy tong arm 12 is rotated and extended to properly position the book holder assembly. The book holder assembly H is then rotated upon the universal swivel means 13 to whatever position might be desirable for comfortable and easy reading, as in any of the positions illustrated at FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. After such adjustment, the entire assembly is locked into place by merely turning knob S3. The lamp L is then swung to any position by pivoting it about the arm 14 and pivoting the arm 14 about its connecting shaft 85 and locking the assembly into position by knob 86. Next a book is placed upon the holder I-I with the open pages resting upon the opposing shelves 73. Final adjustments are made by properly extending the wires at each end of the shelf and adjusting the position of the intermediate support 81 if it is required. The book is then snugly and securely held in place between the end abutments 71 and 76. While the book must be released from the holder to turn the pages, the apparatus permits easy relaxed reading.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail but it is obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devise alternate and equivalent constructions which are within the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I desire that my protection be limited, nOt to the constructions illustrated and described, but only by the upper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A base for a bookholder frame of the type which includes a lower outer, upright tube, an inner tube telescopically mounted therein, means to hold the inner tube at a selected extended position above the outer tube, and means at the upper end of the the tube adapted to hold a book frame, wherein said base comprises:

(a) a socket means adapted to hold the bottom of the outer tube,

(b) a pair of complementary arms rigidly outstanding from the socket means substantially at right angles; and,

(c) ya liat oor plate of rigid, sheet-like material between the arms and at the bottom edges thereof, adapted to receive the leg of an article of furniture, or the like, to facilitate holding the base in place.

2. A base for a bookholder frame of the type which includes a lower outer, upright tube, an inner tube telescopically mounted therein, means to hold the inner tube at a selected extended position above the outer tube, and means at the upper end of the tube adapted to hold a book frame, wherein said base comprises:

(a) a socket means adapted to retain the bottom of the outer tube,

(b) a pair of rigid arms atixed to the socket means substantially at right angles; and

(c) a second pair of swngable arms pivotally mounted on the socket means and being adapted to swing from first positions substantially adjacent to said rigid fixed arms to second positions with each swingable arm being substantially opposite to one of the fixed arms.

3. In the organization defined in claim 2, including a flat plate between the fixed arms adapted to receive the leg of an article of furniture or the like to facilitate holding the base in place.

4. A frame for a book holder or the like which is adapted to be suspended from a laterally extended arm at the top of the frame, said frame being of the type which includes a base, an outer tube upstanding from the base, an inner tube slidable and telescopically mounted Within the outer tube to extend thereabove, a cylindrical leg upstanding from the inner tube adapted to swingably hold said book holder supporting arm and means at the outer and inner tubes adapted to slidably extend and to hold the inner tube at any selected position, and wherein the extending and holding means comprises:

(a) a rack means at one face of the inner tube,

(b) a transverse bearing at the top of the outer tube,

(c) a shaft carrying a pinion mounted in the bearing having its teeth engaging the rack means,

(d) a turn knob affixed to one end of the shaft; and,

v (e) a lock means associated with the pinion shaft adapted to be manually released when the pinion is being rotated to adjust the height of the inner tube, but to be otherwise actuated by accidental rotation of the pinion to lock the pinion against rotation and hold the inner tube at a selected position. 5. In the organization delined in claim 4, wherein saidv lock means includes, a second turn knob threaded to the other end of the shaft with the threads being directed to niove the second knob against the bearing when the pinion Y is rotating to lower the inner tube and the second knob is held stationary, whereby sudden downward movement of the inner tube rotates the shaft into the said second knob to lock the shaft and knob against the bearing and prevent the inner tube from dropping into the outer tube.

6. In the organization defined in claim 4, wherein said lock means includes, a detent mounted over the bearing having an arm adapted to contact a tooth of the pinion, whereby to prevent the inner tube from dropping into the outer tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,108 Blasco May 11, 1920 1,708,761 Horbath u Apr. 9, 1929 2,333,376 Hopkins Nov. 2, 1943 3,016,223 Hoag et al Jan. 9, 19,62 

1. A BASE FOR A BOOKHOLDER FRAME OF THE TYPE WHICH INCLUDES A LOWER OUTER, UPRIGHT TUBE, AN INNER TUBE TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED THEREIN, MEANS TO HOLD THE INNER TUBE AT A SELECTED POSITION ABOVE THE OUTER TUBE, AND MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF THE TUBE ADAPTED TO HOLD A BOOK FRAME, WHEREIN SAID BASE COMPRISES: (A) A SOCKET MEANS ADAPTED TO HOLD THE BOTTOM OF THE OUTER TUBE, (B) A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTARY ARMS RIGIDLY OUTSTANDING FROM THE SOCKET MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES; AND, (C) A FLAT FLOOR PLATE OF RIGID, SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL BETWEEN THE ARMS AND AT THE BOTTOM EDGES THEREOF, ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE LEG OF AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE, OR THE LIKE, TO FACILITATE HOLDING THE BASE IN PLACE. 